July 13, 2015

Goodness, this week got sooo cold! I couldn´t believe it. We had one day that was pretty hot and the next it was as if Santa was coming. SOOO cold (and when I say sooo cold it was probably only 50 degress, but I have become brasilian blooded :0 haha!). But really, one day it was all just dark and cloudy and had a breeze that made the soul cold. It was also raining and just all stormy. I loved it! I think all of you know how much I love this type of weather. Big dark storm clouds that just make you want to bundle up and watch a movie :) I just want all of you to imagine the nice weather I am having while St. George is super super hot! hahaha. But yeah, this week was difficult to find anyone in the streets because of the weather. And even when it was raining people didn´t even open the gates for us because they didn´t want to leave their houses, freaking meanies. ha

So wow! another week has come and gone! It seems to be going by so fast and I don´t know how. The one year mark is coming up and its all downhill after that! Sheesh! 

I will highlight a few major points from this week. Friday was a really fun day because we were able to go to Jardim Inga and participate in an activity us missionaries all did. A night of integration with investigators and members. We shared a little message and played charades. It was super funny. I got the card to act out cake pan... Like seriously, how on earth do you act out cake pan??? ha, anyways, that activity was really fun and everyone loved it. The members really came through as well and brought lots of food for everyone :P ha. Its not a church activity if there is no food involved! But after we stayed the night in Jardim Inga and its always such a blast to stay with other missionaries for a night. 

Then Saturday morning E. Benedetti and E. Figueiredo came back with us to Luziania to help a member of the church move her house. And it was a very difficult day. We spent 10 hours moving her house and at the end of the day we were all exhausted beyond belief. It was a circus as well trying to get her fridge out of the tiny apartment. We had to take the doors off the fridge and doors off the apartment to get it out! and not to mention it weighed like 200 pounds or something. But we were finally able to do it. And we ate lunch with her and she started crying blessing the food because she was so thankful for our help. It made us all feel so good that we were able to help her. She is a single mom and had no one else to help. Serving others is really so gratifying and truly brings us closer to Christ. <3

This week was a very difficult week as far as lessons and finding new people. I don´t know exactly why some weeks are harder than others when we are working our tails off and following all the rules, but these weeks I seem to always grow more and learn more. And trusting in the Lord, because it truly is His work, is the only way to get through the times when no one wants to hear about the gospel. But it is amazing to be here doing His work and trying to help our fellow bretheren learn about and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. I studied a lot about our premortal life and the plans Satan and Christ presented. I have never studied much about this topic but I am so thankful that all of us here chose to follow Christ. Christ´s plan truly is perfect and I am learning more and more each day about it and how I can help not only others reach salvation, but myself as well. The church is true people!

I love you all and hope this week is the best for all of you :) Don´t forget to read the scriptures daily and say personal and family prayers! The little things are the things that are most important! AMO VOCÊS, FIQUEM FIRME! 

com amor, Elder Patterson